Essential Media & 11 Television Join Forces

TORONTO: Australia’s Essential Media and Entertainment and the North American production company 11 Television have combined to create the Essential 11 Media Group.

Essential Media and Entertainment will continue to produce factual, drama and kids’ content for Australia and the international market. 11 Television has opened hubs in Los Angeles and Toronto, where it will focus exclusively on factual entertainment formats.

The combined Essential 11 Media Group already has a number of reality formats and factual programs lined up for U.S. and Canadian networks, including Propos’d, a show for Oxygen in which boyfriends pull off elaborate pranks to give their girlfriends surprise marriage proposals. Destination Fear is a comedy prank show for Travel Channel in the U.S. and Travel & Leisure in Canada that features paranormal-obsessed travelers going to frightening destinations. Cover Me Canada is a talent show format for CBC. Risky Business is an investment competition show for Canada’s Slice. Other projects include Australia: The Times Traveler’s Guide, My Brother the Serial Killer and The Grammar of Happiness.

Chris Hilton, the CEO of Essential Media and Entertainment, said, "There are great synergies to be had in developing hit formats across the group with simultaneous access to broadcasters in three English-speaking territories. This is why we’ve invested in this partnership with 11 Television, which is helmed by industry leaders and veteran executive producers Kevin Healey and Jesse Fawcett."